Rome City Schools will implement a new policy called the Disengage to Engage No Cell Phone Initiative at the start of the upcoming school year. The initiative is designed to reduce distractions in classrooms and improve student engagement.
The policy is aligned with Georgia House Bill 340, known as the Distraction-Free Education Act, which sets standards for limiting access to personal electronic devices during instructional hours.
Beginning August 1, students from kindergarten through eighth grade will be required to hand over their personal mobile devices to their homeroom teacher at the beginning of each school day. These devices, including smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, and similar electronics, must remain silenced and inaccessible from the first bell until dismissal. Devices will be stored securely in designated storage boxes within homeroom classrooms.
According to Rome City Schools, “The primary goal of the Disengage to Engage initiative is to foster a more focused, respectful, and connected classroom environment for students. Extensive research has consistently demonstrated limiting cell phone use during school hours can significantly improve academic performance, support positive mental health outcomes, and increase student engagement in learning and social interactions.”
The district further stated: “By removing digital distractions, Rome City Schools aims to empower students to be fully present in their educational journey and engage more meaningfully with their peers and teachers.”
In emergencies, parents will be contacted directly by the school using existing emergency contact information. Parents who need to communicate with their children during the day are asked to call the school’s main office. Students may use front office phones with teacher permission if they need to reach a parent.
There are exceptions for students who have documented medical needs or receive accommodations under Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or Section 504 Plans. These students may access personal electronic devices as necessary according to their specific plans. Each case will be reviewed individually by school staff.
Rome City Schools encourages families to become familiar with these procedures and invites questions about how they will be implemented.
“Rome City Schools extends its sincere gratitude to our parents and community for partnering with us to support safer, more distraction-free, and ultimately more effective learning environments for our children. Together, we can help our students Disengage to Engage and reach their full academic potential,” said district officials.
